Engineering Physics UG Major Program (Degree Options: BS, BSH)

The Engineering Physics program is designed for students who have an interest in and an aptitude for both engineering and physics. The program provides students with a firm foundation in physics and mathematics, together with engineering design and problem-solving skills. This background prepares students to tackle complex problems in multidisciplinary areas that are at the forefront of 21st-century technology, such as solid state devices, quantum optics and photonics, materials science, nanotechnology, electromechanical systems, energy systems, and any engineering field that requires a very solid background in physics. Because the program emphasizes science, mathematics and engineering, students are well prepared to pursue graduate work in either engineering or physics.

EPIC: The Engineering Physics Student Society

Check out the the Engineering Physics Interdisciplinary Community (EPIC) webpage for current news, links, and answers to common questions.

Honors

EPHYS majors have the option to pursue an honors degree (ENGR-BSH, Engineering Physics), applying autumn quarter of the senior year; the deadline to submit a proposal for honors has been extended to November 28, 2012.

Honors Criteria: Minimum GPA of 3.5 and independent research conducted at an advanced level with a faculty research advisor and documented in an honors thesis. The honors candidate must identify a faculty member who will serve as his or her honors research advisor and a second reader who will be asked to read the thesis and give feedback before endorsing the thesis. One of the two must be a member of the Academic Council and in the School of Engineering.

Application: Application documents should be submitted to Darlene in 135 Huang no later than Nov 28, 2012:

Students may enroll for research units in ENGR 199(W) or in deparmental courses such as ME 191(H). A completed thesis draft must be submitted to the research advisor and second reader by April 15, 2013. For more details on completing the honors requirements, see pages 311-12 in the 2012-13 UGHB.

Summer Research

Engineering Physics majors may participate in on-campus summer research programs in engineering, physics, or applied physics. To conduct research with a faculty member in the School of Engineering, students apply to the summer research program for the department of the faculty mentor. To conduct research with a faculty member in the Physics or Applied Physics Departments or at SLAC, students apply through the Physics, Applied Physics and SLAC program at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/physics/academics/summer/SummerResearch.htm

Requirements 2012-13

Math and Science Requirements: Includes the following required courses:Math: MATH 51 and 52 or CME 100 and 104, MATH 53 or CME 102, MATH 131P (MATH 173 can be taken in place of MATH 131P).

Engineering Fundamentals:Three courses from ENGR Fundamentals approved list. A course in computer science, such as CS106A, B, or X, is recommended. Fundamentals courses acceptable for the core program (below) may also be used to satisfy the 3-course Fundamentals requirement as long as 45 unduplicated units of engineering are taken.

Design Course: At least one of the following design-project courses must be included in each program:

CS 108, EE 133, ME 203*, ME 210 or PHYSICS 108*If ME 203 is used to satisfy both the Writing Laboratory and the Design Course requirements, then the combination of ME 203, ME 103D and ENGR 102M should be taken.

Three Courses from one of the following Specialty Areas:

1. The Biophysics specialty prepares students to employ methods in physics to the study of biological systems. Students have the opportunity to learn about the physical biology of systems on a broad range of scales, techniques developed in biophysics for imaging, measuring, and manipulating biological systems, and the application of quantitative analysis techniques to topics in biology and genomics. Choose three courses from BioE 41, 42, 44, 101, 103, 123, Bio 132, EE 169, AP 192, and CS 262. Students taking this specialty may use BioE 41 and 42 to satisfy the Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Statistical Mechanics requirement (substitution recommended), but then cannot count BioE 41 and 42 toward the three courses required for the specialty. Students taking this specialty may use BioE 123 to satisfy either the Electronics Lab or Design Course requirement (substitution recommended), but then cannot count BioE 123 toward the three courses required for the specialty. EE 369A, B or C may be taken instead of EE 169. BioE 131 may be used to satisfy the WIM requirement for this specialty. BioE 80 recommended as an Engineering Fundamental. EE 261 recommended for the Advanced Math requirement.2.The Computational Science specialty prepares students to apply modern computational techniques to problems in engineering and applied science, and to the analysis of data. Students have the opportunity to study computational theory and algorithms, as well as applications in modeling and data analysis. Choose three courses from CS 103, 121 or 221, 154, 161, 164, 205A, 205B, 228, 229 or 229A; CME 212, 215A, 215B, or any CME course with course number greater than 300 and less than 390; Stats 202, 213. CS 181W may be used to satisfy the WIM requirement for this specialty. CS 106A/B or X recommended as an Engineering Fundamental. CS 108 recommended for the Design Course requirement. CS 109 and 109L recommended for the Advanced Math requirement. 3. The Electromechanical System Design specialty provides the opportunity for students to explore the process of design, analysis, and realization of modern electromechanical systems including “smart products” with embedded sensing and actuation. Take ME 80, ME 112, and ME 210 or EE 118. Take ME 203 and ENGR 102M as WIM Course. ME 101 and ME 103D also recommended.4. The Energy Systems specialty provides the opportunity for students to explore how energy is manipulated in both device applications and for modern energy conversion systems including electrical power, transportation, and propulsion. Take: ME 131A, ME 131B, ME 140. Take ME 203 and ENGR 102M as WIM and/or Design Course. ME 103D and ME 70 also recommended.5. In the Materials Science specialty, students learn how to design and synthesize materials with particular structures at the nanometer and micrometer scale that provide special electrical, optical, magnetic or mechanical properties. Students can learn how to use these materials to make integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, fuel cells, microelectromechanical systems and other advanced devices. Choose three from any MATSCI courses numbered 151 to 199 (except 159Q) or APPPHYS 272/PHYSICS 172. In addition, ENGR 31 or CHEM 31 highly recommended. 6. The Photonics specialty provides the opportunity for students to learn about the emission, transmission, amplification, detection, modulation and switching of optical and infrared light. Students can apply this knowledge to optoelectronic devices such as lasers, photodetectors, waveguides and photonic crystals, or to quantum information science, with applications in quantum communication and quantum computing. Choose from EE 216, EE 231, EE 232, EE 234, EE 243, EE 268, MATSCI 199. PHYSICS 107 recommended as WIM course.7. In the Renewable Energy specialty, students explore energy conversion and storage technologies that are relevant in renewable energy systems, such as solar cells, wind turbines, batteries, fuel cells, and hydrogen production and storage. Choose from EE 237, EE 293A, EE 293B, MATSCI 156, MATSCI 302, MATSCI 316, ME 260.8. In the Solid State Physics specialty, students have the opportunity to learn about the macroscopic physical properties of solids, including electrical, magnetic and optical properties, superconductivity, and heat transfer in solids. Students learn how these properties can be manipulated and applied in electronic devices. Choose from APPPHYS 272/PHYSICS 172, APPHYS 273, EE 116, EE 216, MATSCI 199.9. Other Specialty: With approval of advisor and by petition, a set of three courses in one area of concentration (e.g., astrophysics and astronautics; quantum information).

Declaring Engineering Physics

1. Make a pre-major advising appointment with either Prof. Pat Burchat at burchat@stanford.edu in Physics, or with Prof Mark Cappelli at cap@stanford.edu in Mechanical Engineering, to discuss math and physics requirements, the selection of a specialty in Engineering Physics, and choosing an advisor.2. Declare the Engineering Physics subplan on Axess: select “Engineering” as your major and "Engineering Physics" as your subplan. Do not select Engineering Honors; this option may be elected later should you choose to pursue the Honors program.3. Print your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess. 4. Download the Engineering Physics Program Sheet from the Program Sheet page of this site. Complete the Program Sheet, indicating how you plan to fulfill the major requirements (or do this when you meet with your advisor). 5. Make an appointment with your advisor to discuss your program. Have your advisor sign the Program Sheet. Your program proposal may change as you progress in the program; submit revisions in consultation with your advisor. (Submit an initial Program Sheet during the quarter in which you declare, and a final Program Sheet at least two quarters before you graduate.) 6. Turn in your signed form and a copy of your unofficial transcript to Darlene in 135 Huang; she can then approve your declaration in Axess and enter your new advisor. You can also get AP or transfer credit approval taken care of at this time.